Vice President and flagbearer of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the 2024 general election, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia received a rousing welcome from Madina Central Market women in the La Nkwantanang- Madina Municipality in the Greater Accra Region.
This was when Dr. Bawumia toured the Madina market Friday morning to commiserate with the victims of a recent fire outbreak.
Upon entering the market, the NPP flagbearer was gleefully mobbed by the market women as he toured and inspected the affected areas.
Large parts of the market were ravaged by fire last week, resulting in significant property losses for many market women and men.
Following behind-the-scenes discussions between the leadership of the market women and the Government during the week, Vice President Bawumia visited the market to interact with those affected and assess the damage first-hand.
Dr. Bawumia expressed sympathy for their losses and assured them of government support to help them resume business activities.
The Vice President announced immediate plans to commence the construction of a three-storey, 120-store facility to replace the damaged one.
Additionally, the National Enterprises Agency, represented by its CEO, pledged support in the form of financial assistance to restock for those impacted by the fire.
As a gesture of solidarity, the NPP flagbearer also donated GH¢200,000 to support those affected by the fire outbreak.
The over 110 fire victims who lost valuables in the April 10, 2024 night’s fire, would also receive support through the Women’s Empowerment Fund of the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA).
Addressing the visibly high-spirited traders, Dr Bawumia said after he was briefed about the fire incident, he quickly asked that the situation should be assessed and estimates done by a contractor.
He gave the assurance that the design would be ready so that work would start in earnest.
At the engagement were market leaders, victims of the fire outbreak, fire officers, the police, officers from the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and other security operatives.
While drawing the attention of the traders to the new designs of the market, Dr Bawumia who spoke in Twi announced that 120 stores and 78 small shops on the ground would be constructed.
“After the construction, traders whose goods were ravaged by the fire will be assisted by the GEA CEO, Kosi Yankey. You will be supported with the women’s empowerment fund so that you can continue with your work. We have all your names.
“We want the contractor to work in earnest while Kosi Yankey, the CEO of the GEA, ensures you get the money,” Dr. Bawumia announced.
While sympathising with the fire victims, the Vice President also used the occasion to advise all traders to buy into fire insurance so that in times such as fire outbreaks, the insurance companies would be at hand to support them.
He also urged traders to engage the services of qualified electricians to undertake electrical connections in their shops.
Promise to Kayayei
Dr Bawumia further announced the construction of two hostels in Madina and Ashaiman and told female head porters, also known as kayayei, that the government had not abandoned them.
“We have not forgotten about you; we will support you. We are giving you hostels where you can stay and learn a trade.
“Many did not believe me when I said we will put up hostels for kaya0yei, but now, we have completed two of the hostels, one in Madina and another in Ashaiman in the Greater Accra Region,” Dr. Bawumia told the Kayayei.
He assured the kayayei that by May 4, 2024, the hostels would be inaugurated for them to occupy them.
The Greater Accra Regional Minister designate, Nii Kwartei Titus Glover, who together with other NPP officials accompanied the Vice-President, urged the traders to unite and support the contractor to carry out the work successfully.
He promised to put the contractor on his toes to get the work done on time.
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